Episode 50 : Nurses Belong at the Design Table with Dr. Debbie Gregory

Episode #50: How Nurses Are Redesigning the Future of Healthcare with Dr. Debbie Gregory

What happens when a nurse takes a seat at the design table and reimagines the future of healthcare?

In this milestone 50th episode of the Smart Care Team Spotlight, we’re celebrating with a powerful conversation featuring Dr. Debbie Gregory—Co-Founder of the Nursing Institute for Healthcare Design, Principal of Healthcare Innovation Consulting at Smith Seckman Reid, and co-editor of the Health Environments Research and Design Journal.

Dr. Gregory shares her inspiring journey from clinical nursing to healthcare design—a shift sparked by realizing that nurses were too often excluded from critical hospital design decisions. Today, she’s proving how essential the nurse’s voice is in shaping healthcare environments, technologies, and workflows that truly support frontline care.

Key Insights from Episode #50:

• Why nurse input matters in designing hospitals, workflows, and smart care systems

• How technologies like virtual nursing, AI, and ambient listening can transform practice when aligned with real-world needs

• The role of nurse leaders in setting standards and protocols for emerging healthcare technologies

• Her advice to nurse leaders: permit nurses to innovate, be brave, and lead change

This episode is a must-listen for healthcare leaders, nurse innovators, and anyone passionate about the intersection of nursing, technology, and healthcare design.

👉 Tune in now to hear how Dr. Debbie Gregory empowers nurses to lead smart hospital design innovation, from virtual care to AI-powered workflows.